How to face a milestone that isn’t welcomed
What do you think of when you think of milestones? Yesterday I faced an unwelcome milestone but first a definition:
1. stone set up beside a road to mark the distance in miles to a particular place. (Obviously, this wasn’t the milestone I’m referring to. 🙂 )
2. an action or event marking a significant change or stage in development.
Yesterday was my birthday. I started my day in prayer, thanking God for the gift of life. I looked back and saw God’s hand on me along my life’s journey. I often wish I’d had a different childhood, one I could look back on with fond memories. But I didn’t and I can’t.
What I do have though is a keener understanding of God’s faithfulness. I know what God has protected me from. I see God’s faithfulness in ways others can’t. I can look at any struggles I face now with God’s faithfulness in the past in clear view. That’s a good thing.
I am stronger because of my history not in spite of it. (It’s a choice I made along the way, to use my past for my betterment not for my detriment.)
My mom is not well and it continues to break my heart. For the first time in my life, she forgot to give me a birthday present. Ove the last five years, it’s been gift cards or cash. This year it was nothing. She simply didn’t remember. I hadn’t anticipated that. I had a great big lump in my throat. Something really quite insignificant on its own merit, but a milestone in her life and mine.
Milestones are important to face head-on. If we’re smart, we don’t ignore them or shove them under the carpet. We decide how we’re going to proceed.
With this milestone, I now have more information for future decisions I may have to make regarding her care. With each milestone, some decisions are taken out of my hand.
I will never throw away her card. In her failing penmanship, she wrote, “Happy Birthday. I love you very much. Mom. Happy Birthday. I love you very much”. Yep. She wrote it twice.
That was the best present ever because it means she still remembers she loves me. I’ll take that for now.
God bless and I hope you have a good day.
PS There was also another milestone yesterday. My birthday cake was not good. I had ordered it from the acknowledged
I had ordered it from the acknowledged best bakery in town. They have recently changed ownership. When I picked it up, I remember thinking, “Gosh, this is a heavy cake.”
When I sliced into it, I found out why. It was mostly frosting which was sickeningly sweet and way too much of it. The actual cake part played a minor part. But the milestone is, I don’t want any more of it which is a big milestone for me because I lOVE commercial birthday cakes.
But I put it in the freezer and there it will stay until I have company and need to bring it out.
